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In a recent interview Buzz said he liked what he had done with Bad Mood Rising and Tarantula Heart in starting both records with a long track. He said he plans to do more of this! I was quite surprised he would devote himself to such a rigid approach given he seems to like to change things up a lot. I'm also not sure what i think about this development.

It is surprising that it has taken 40 years for the band to suddenly start writing long opening tracks. I like what they did with 'Mister Dog...' but i'm not convinced they could keep doing what they did with 'Pain Equals Funny'. I don't think it is very effective to have a long track that doesn't have it's own distinct thing. Something that feels more like a series of different tracks sown together than something more coherent and solid. If the band do continue this trend it seems the songs would fit more into this category than a proper song that just happens to be longer.

Also i'm not sure what to think that from now on Melvins albums may all be within that 5-6 tracks per record form. Who knows, the logical conclusion would seem to be that at some point a new Melvins album will consist or two 19 minute tracks! One song on each side of vinyl.

There are at least 3 times riffs have been reused identically in other songs that i know of. Are there any more?

1.
The Man With The Laughing Hand Is Dead
A History Of Bad Men

2.
Dawn Of The Locusts
Bummer Conversation

3.
Bird Animal
Pain Equals Funny

PAIN EQUALS FUNNY
I'm a little uncomfortable
I'll take him on
I'm about to make you happy
Drive it up to the country

Tell them it's our baby
Not like i'm scared
I'd really like to think about this

Look at me i'm gorgeous
I'm sorry too
I didn't even listen

I was on the highway
Piggy little eyes
It's a lot but not enough

Yeah
Yeah
Yeah

A natural curiosity about people
That's awfully soon
Pain equals funny
And that's exactly what i said to him
Smokin' and rockin' the joint be
With mad cow disease
No moral hazard endangering

It responds to potential punishments
We would be unchanged
Dumb fools the dominant minority
As it strikes me

The weight and consequence of disgust
What else can i say?
History of human interaction
Quiet lies
The divine metaphysical angel
Call him Mr Jones
Measuring of the finger bone
As a paw

The most well known of the inspired
Have you any drugs?
I feel myself being dragged away
If you say


WORKING THE DITCH
It was a dark time for us
The whole goddamn godless world
For now or with the other
I never liked so much

New album discussion!

I'm very OCD about these things but it bugs me that four records in the entire Melvins catalogue have title tracks on them - Gluey, POTRE, NWB and Freak Puke. I always wish those songs had their own independent titles and weren't named after the album they are on. I would like to hear Buzz's thoughts on why they didn't do more title tracks on their albums or how the albums are named. I guess sometimes it's the name of a song first that then they hijack for the album title rather than the other way around.

It made me wonder what a title track song on the other albums might sound like too. Can you imagine if the band ever put out a brand new album and used all the album titles for the titles of the new songs! That would be pretty wild and in a way something one might expect Melvins to actually do!

Generally though i'm not a fan of albums with a title track on. I feel album and songs should be titled differently and to have a clear distinction between the two.

At first i didn't believe folk here that City Dump had been played live but i have seen a few setlists from 2013 with it having been performed. Does anyone have any footage or audio of the band performing it? It's my favourite song on Tres Cabrones and i'd like to hear a live version as i've never discovered any clips myself.

Like it says on the tin, rate them!! Here's how i see it.


1. Colossus Of Destiny
2. Prick
3. Throbbing Jazz Gristle Funk Hits
4. Love
5. Chicken Switch

Since the Melvins/Void Manes thread has been overtaken with shirt chat i thought i would kickstart the official album discussion thread. I only just realised that the cover for this album is a reference to TG'S 'Heathen Earth' cover art. The skull with the illustration style numbering around it.

One of my biggest gripes about the releases on AmRep is it's like they don't even exist. They come and go and then never get a proper label release. Often limited with no digital versions available. A few years ago it wasn't too bad because you could always guarentee that they would appear later as part of some new Melvins album on Ipecac. The AmRep stuff was just art releases. But now that has flipped around. The releases are ONLY on AmRep with nothing planned beyond that.

Clearly the band can't put these releases on their Bandcamp page because that's Ipecac affiliated so then you end up with records like the new Throbbing Gristle one that just fly totally under the radar. Same thing happened with Bad Mood Rising too. It's like it's a new album yet at the same time it's missing or absent in some way. Not a proper record!

I always wish Melvins would do like some bands do - put ALL their releases, EVERY single goddamn thing on a Bandcamp page and use that as a place to showcase what they have and will put out. It's a mess how it is currently. Some stuff on Atlantic, some on Boner, some on Ipecac and then all these obscure AmRep EP's and special one off's. For me, putting out albums with limited availability and without proper distribution makes it seem like the band don't really stand behind what they have made. They are not proud to show it off or make sure it gets out to people. They just want to churn it out, make some money and then move onto the next thing.

Maybe some will say i'm just unduly moaning here but as a fan i find it very disappointing that it has to be like this. That it has got to this point.

Listened to I Fuck Around for the first time in a while and it struck me that it really sounds like Steven is adding some background vocals on it. I wonder if that is right since he's not listed as being on the album in any way.

Forget what you thought when you actually heard them, which Melvins album do you think seemed the most exciting project when it was first announced? Three (in no order) stand out for me.....

1. A Walk With Love & Death - was a really exciting one. It was a proper double album, a great visual package, the first with Steven. Plus they promoted it with talk of an upcoming movie and a little online trailer.

2. Five Legged Dog - again the epic, double album effect! Perhaps some of the excitement of this was tempered by the fact it was mostly already known songs. So not quite as exciting as if it was all new material.

3. Freak Puke - the bands first album for 2 years and obviously something completely new under the "Lite" tag. Would this be good? What would it sound like etc? What would Melvins do outside of the BB era and in such a radical departure with a stand-up bass?

I hadn't heard of the band at the time of the Trilogy but i imagine the announcement of those three releases was a big event and super exciting/intriguing. Especially with these being their first outings with Kevin and first time on Ipecac.

I watched some of the Rhianna Superbowl show and it made me wonder what a Melvins one would be like. Obviously the chances of that EVER happening are like miniscule. BUT! What songs do you think they would perform if they did? What would the show be like. Just taking a casual glance at past years it seems they tend to run to 12-14 minutes. Personally i think i'd like just 'The Anti-Vermin Seed' played whilst fireworks and colourful lazers go off big time - a complete high end, all out, expensive, auditory/visual blockbuster event! What says you?

https://v13.net/2022/12/melvins-steven-mcdonald-dale-crover-interview-cover-story-bad-mood-rising/

Go!!!!


Heater Moves And Eyes
At A Crawl
Zodiac
With Teeth
Teet
Larry
At The Stake
The Bloat
Grin
AMAZON
Jew Boy Flower Head
Mine Is No Disgrace
Tipping The Lion
The Anti-Vermin Seed
The Bloated Pope
The Hawk
Dies Iraea
Electric Flower
We Are Doomed
A Growing Disgust
Romance
City Dump
Sesame Street Meat
Beer Hippie
Flaming Creature
Don't Forget To Breathe
Caddy Daddy
Never Say You're Sorry
Working The Ditch

If you could pick 1-3 Melvins albums to be redone now fully acoustic which would they be? I think something like that would be fascinating. I think i would pick...

Hostile Ambient Takeover
Bad Mood Rising
The Maggot

I've picked those because firstly i like the material and secondly because none of the tracks on those albums were on Five Legged Dog. So it would still feel fresh to hear them acoustic! Although perhaps in acoustic form some of the songs wouldn't really work as such. Can you imagine an acoustic Colossus Of Destiny!!!!! Actually thinking about it, that would be something alright.

I'm calling it now, next year will bring the KingDunn album on Ipecac sometime in Spring. February/March possibly with Buzz and Trevor touring together for a month or two. Then later in the year sometime around August the Melvins/Roy Mayorga release with a corresponding Melvins tour. Plus maybe a special 40th anniversary tour too!

I was interested in looking at their longest songs. So in all their glory here is all the songs over 10+ minutes!! Technically does Joe's track still count? Plus i suppose one could also include Colossus Of Destiny??

22:58   Hands First Flower
22:29   Pigs Of The Roman Empire
15:51   The Anti-Vermin Seed
14:43   Divorced
14:20   Roll Another One
14:09   Mister Dog Is Totally Right
12:50   Charmicarmicat
12:45   Moon Pie
12:39   Paraquat Plus
12:33   Hung Bunny / Roman Dog Bird (Acoustic)
12:12   Air Breather Deep In The Arms Of Morphius
12:11   House Of Gasoline
11:27   The Man With The Laughing Hand Is Dead
11:20   Station To Station
10:59   Hung Bunny
10:53   Black Sabbath
10:47   Let It All Be
10:32   See How Pretty, See How Smart
10:13   Spread Eagle Beagle

Starting the thread off for this section of the board!

As fans i think we can all say the music of Melvins has influenced us, but has the band had any impact on your life in other areas?

For me i think i would say "yes". Personally i find it inspiring how Buzz just lets his hair go grayer and grayer and now white. Aging doesn't seem to overly bother him. Equally i admire his single vision and how he has 100% conviction in his creative endeavours. That he improvises and finds ways to be creative. I find all that rather impactful on my own life or in following my own interests. In embracing being true to myself and not caring too much about prevailing thoughts or trends. The band will just carry on doing their thing and people can either like it or not. Also i like that in the grand scheme of things - a person can be their own weird selves and that it doesn't really matter too much. By that i mean Buzz has his mumu's or his unconventionally decorated home with Mackie. It makes me think we all only live once and to spend it doing what we enjoy. That we don't all have to follow the crowd or be like everyone else. All that is hugely inspiring and influential to me.

A couple of words i'm not too sure of in Mr Dog but there are my attempts.

MISTER DOG IS TOTALLY RIGHT
When he is at full control
Don't tell me i don't wanna know
Angel dust from heaven
The same way you acquire death
You want me to give up
Lets tear this place apart
Don't tell me i don't wanna know
When he is at full control

When he is at full control
Don't tell me i don't wanna know

Angel dust from heaven
The same way you acquire death

Angel dust it wont be long
Angel dust it wont be long

The eyes of the world
Treat like animal
A mule is more valuable
Said to the moral mission
The real me that no one knows
All dies on the road

A mule is more valuable
Said to the moral mission
The real me that no one knows
All dies on the road


NEVER SAY YOU'RE SORRY
I hate to tell you
They go much deeper
All has changed
Standing straight up
What you embalm
Your Halloween button
You want to kill me
Don't insult me
Let me know
Where you're staying
Your personal swarm
To cut me up

Apparently there is some potentially new unreleased song titled 'Mr Dog' performed on this new tour. It makes me wonder if Melvins have ever previewed new songs prior to their release before. I'm fairly sure they have never done so in the time i've been a fan since 2006. Minus cover songs of course. Am i wrong or is that something they used to maybe do back in the early days?

"Great session today with (the) Melvins some killer double drumming with @drcrover and heavy riffs from @realkingbuzzo and @stevenmcdonald coming at ya! #melvins #ministryband #punk #metal #experimentalmusic #drums #guitar #bass #lifer" - Roy Mayorga

I keep wondering about when this new album is going to come out. Dale said they hope it will be this year but time is moving along. I've been thinking where they could even place it in the year too. I've noticed with the Ipecac releases that they announce a Melvins album 3 months before the release date. That makes it really uncertain how to position it. The band are touring mid June to the end of July. They could announce it before then but it would be weird to announce a record before a tour and not actually have that album out.

We heard from Mackie that they also have another tour planned after The Electric Roach one. Perhaps that could be in late August/early September. Gig for a month through October and finish up by November. That feels right in how they usually tour. There is little chance that Ipecac would release something in December - the band have never done that before. So as i see it i would guess that a new album will be announced fairly soon. Probably in June for a September release. But like i say that is weird to announce it just before an unrelated tour.

I was thinking about the recent Beatles 'Get Back' TV series - multiple hours showing the band recording the 'Let It Be' album. Anyway it got me thinking which Melvins album would i most love to see something similar of? A total behind the scenes documentary of when the guys recorded it. I'm not sure which i would pick. Different records would be interesting for different reasons. Maybe because of the band dynamic or bassist fall out at the time or because i enjoy a particular album. Maybe even 'Working With God' to see how the band reacted to the pandemic in those initial days. But i do think 'Hostle Ambient Takeover' would have been a good one to see possibly. 'Five Legged Dog' would be fascinating too. What would you choose?

I've always been intrigued by the drum solo in the middle of 'Evil New War God'. Obviously this was done during the era with Big Business and performed live it was interesting that both Dale and Coady had a drum trade off in the solo. That they both had their parts. Now when the song is performed Dale just does all the sections himself. It makes me wonder if the drum section was written by both of them together or just one of them. Also whether the bits they play individually were written by that person. So perhaps Dale did a bit then Coady reacted to that and so on.

Obviously this shouldn't really be a this one or that. There's room for both artists, but i wonder whose art do you prefer?? Perhaps you feel one represents the band more than the other or just fits visually better. Or maybe you just like the work of one over the other without any consideration for how it represents the music. Or possibly you like both on an equal footing?

For myself i prefer Mackie's work on the album covers to what Haze does. I still really like a few of the Haze covers but as a general rule - Mackie's tend to be more consistent in quality for me. Her work is quite graphic based and strong. Buzz mentioned he wants the album covers to be as visually impactful as a Coca-Cola poster or such. I think what Mackie produces time and time again echoes this concept in spades. Haze of course isn't shooting for that though. Visually he comes at it from a completely different angle and sensibility. You can clearly see a much more down and dirty, i would dare to say "messy" quality. I don't mean messy in terms of being a mess, but in how the pictures mingle and sit. An almost punk rock aesthetic. There is not as much space and balance in his work as Mackie's displays.

Also another win in the Mackie camp for me is her use of colour. For my tastes, Mackie wins this one hands down. Again i don't mean colour as in who uses the most but in the range of colour used and how effectively it is balanced within a cover. I personally think the use of color and space and how both are balanced compositionally are Mackie's two REALLY strong key areas.

But ultimately in a way Haze and Mackie are both polar opposites and weirdly that actually works out quite well.

I was thinking about coats earlier today and it suddenly dawned on me that in all my years as a Melvins fan, i don't think i have seen Buzz in a coat or jacket. Like NEVER EVER seen him in one!!! To realise that actually shocked me quite a bit. Now obviously he lives in the warmth of LA. Plus he tends to tour during the Summer months so i suppose one wouldn't expect to see him wearing an outer garment such as a jacket or coat. But still you would think there would be a picture or video of him wearing one at least ONCE!!! I mean, take Dale i've seen him wearing the occasional jacket before but never Buzz. So i ask you guys, am i right about this? Have any of you guys EVER seen him wearing one? It seems like outside of a mumu on stage, he just always has his regular t-shirts with an unbuttoned shirt over the top. Surely touring around the world in slightly colder climates he must have a coat on at some point!

Whenever we see a peek into the bands recording or fooling around in their studio - the place fascinates me. Over the last decade(!), it's somewhere we have seen inside so much and yet it still seems interesting and mysterious to me. Has anyone here ever visited or recorded at the studios? I'd love to see more of the place or a little tour video around the studio.

Going by the photos and short videos Toshi or the band uploads online i would say the studio is really pretty small. It looks quite cramped and cosy, perhaps only one recording room. Which is fine of course it doesn't have to be a lavish or vast. I just find the place interesting and so unconventional from the types of studios one tends to see modern bands in. It has posters and art, toys and other random objects around. Some i wonder whether they are for recording and experimenting with or just there as decoration. Then there are all the banks of gear with wires and pedals coming out all over the place. It looks like a real madly creative, homely environment and not a stale, clinical site.

Also i've seen before another room where Melvins have rehearsed which looked a bit like a garage that didn't have the bright green painted walls. Is that the same studio too? It looks like they have a load of gear and guitars stored there as well. All that is so, so interesting to me. As a Melvins fan the two places i would absolutely LOVE to see around would be this Sound Of Sirens studio and Buzz & Mackie's home. Both places look utterly compelling in all sorts of ways.

Go SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE channel RIGHT NOW! We have some really cool stuff coming out there very soon and that is the only way for you to find out before all of the creeps.
https://www.youtube.com/user/melvinsdotcom/videos

I wonder what content might appear on the channel. I think this could be potentially very exciting. Im going to guess that perhaps the Melvins TV episodes might get uploaded on there plus (i hope) plenty of other new and fascinating material. Maybe even the A Walk With Love & Death movie!

Probably a frivolous thread, but im going to make it anyway. Here are two things i would like to see the band put out.

1.
An album with LOTS of contributing artists involved. Usually im not too fond of bands that incorporate others into their records. I like to think of a band as a "pure" thing. Just the key members. Yet Melvins have made great use over the years of incorporating guests into songs and records alike. For a band so inclined to welcome others into the fold, it's almost a surprise to think that this only really includes The Crybaby, Everybody Loves Sausages and Basses Loaded. Obviously with Co-vid involved i doubt anything like this would happen soon. It's probably much easier (and cheaper!) to stick to 3 or 4 guys in a room creating a record. But i would like to see the band do a big thing like this at least once more. I can think of quite a few past collaborators and more recent band associations that would make for a compelling mixture and something at least potentially pretty exciting.

2.
Some here haven't liked the acoustic version of the band but i would actually like to see this explored more with new songs. I had the idea today that it would be cool (at least to me!) if they put out a double record with the same songs and tracklist on each one. But one was all electric and the other the same songs all done acoustically. That to me sounds like something i could see being something close to the Melvins wheelhouse. Or alternatively maybe a bit weirder, they could make a record (a bit like The Maggot) where each songs plays twice on the album. So the first track is the electric one then is followed by the acoustic one. Have that happen all the way through the album with each new song. Perhaps that wouldn't work as well but im sure done right it could still be interesting.

Listening to this record right now. I absolutely love both of the Buzzo solo records - some of the best stuff he has ever done in my opinion. I can't wait to get more! Hopefully!

On this week's episode of SPIN Presents Lipps Service, host Scott Lipps spoke with sludge rockers the Melvins. In their conversation, Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover looked back at their career, which started in the late '80s in Seattle. They discussed knowing Kurt Cobain, the current state of rock music, the influence of the Rolling Stones and Charlie Watts on them and a lot more. They also sat down for an acoustic performance, which you can hear at the end of the episode.

https://www.spin.com/2021/11/lipps-service-melvins/

I listened to this new one last night. Some new stuff discussed some very familiar stuff.

https://player.fm/series/third-gear-scratch/episode-107-buzz-osborne

An interview from a bit earlier in the year it seems. Some interesting stuff mentioned here about Working With God and wishing to play with Adrian Belew. Also some of the more common material that Buzz often discusses.

https://www.goldminemag.com/interviews/buzz-osborne-leads-the-melvins-forward-with-new-album

Really looking forward to this one! What songs are you guys most excited to hear. I think Hung Bunny / Roman Dog Bird is one im eager to see how it turns out. Im still intrigued by how people here will listen to the record too. I just can't imagine many people having the time (or maybe desire!) to sit down to 2.5 hours of acoustic Melvins. Although i could be wrong there.